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Ever wonder how breasts produce milk? The formula (so to speak) is a simple case of supply and demand. The supply starts during childbirth as the breastfeeding hormone prolactin kicks into gear when the placenta is delivered. That cues milk production to start, first with colostrum followed by the real deal.

In This Series

The next step is just as important since you need demand to stimulate supply. As the baby suckles, your prolactin levels increase and more milk is produced. And the cycle continues: Baby drains milk from your breasts (demand), breasts respond by producing more milk (supply). Voila! The more milk your baby takes, the more milk your breasts will make.

It seems like a simple enough formula, but unlike bottle-feeding (in which you can tell exactly how much your baby is drinking), breastfeeding is blind; your boobs aren't see-through, so you can't know how much milk you have and how much your baby is taking. That may lead some new moms to wonder: Am I making enough breast milk? Is he getting enough? Here's some help decoding the situation.

What could cause poor milk supply?

Since adequate supply is fueled by adequate demand, anything that hinders the latter can lead to a problem. Common culprits include:

Supplementing. If you've added formula to the menu, your baby will take less milk from your breasts, which in turn will cause your breasts to produce less milk.

Infrequent feedings. Stretching out the time between meals (to four hours, for instance) may be easier on a new mom, but it can mean your breasts won't be stimulated often enough to produce an adequate amount of milk.

Short feedings. If you cut nursing sessions short (five minutes on each breast, for example), not only won't your baby get the fattier (and most nutritious) hind milk, but your breasts won't be sufficiently drained. And without sufficient emptying, they won't be stimulated to produce more.

Pacifiers. For some (but not all) babies, time spent sucking on a pacifier means less time (or inclination) for suckling on the breast. Again, less suckling means less milk production.

How to tell if you have poor milk supply

First of all, there are several unreliable ways to determine if your milk supply is adequate, including the way your breasts feel (full or empty); the letdown sensation (or lack of); the frequency and/or length of feedings; the fact that your baby may take a full bottle after a nursing session; the absence of leaking milk; or the amount of breast milk you're able to pump. None of those is a reliable indicator. Luckily, there are plenty of definitive signs that'll let you know whether your baby is getting enough milk (and your boobs are keeping up with the demand).

Your baby's pooping. If you're changing at least five diapers daily filled with large, seedy, mustard-colored poops, your baby's getting enough milk. Somewhere around two to three months old, expect that rate to drop to one poop a day, or even one every other day — and that still means he's getting enough milk.

Your baby's peeing. If your baby's diaper is wet each time you change it (eight to ten times a day in the early months), then you've got plenty of milk.

Your baby's pee is colorless. He's well hydrated (and you've got a good milk supply) if his pee is light yellow or colorless.

Your baby is gulping and swallowing during feedings (that's breast milk going down the hatch). If he's a silent eater but is still gaining weight, there's nothing to worry about either.

Your baby's content after feedings. You know how you feel after a huge meal. Content (and sometimes ready for a nap!). If your baby's crying and fussing a lot after a full nursing, it could mean he's still hungry (and/or that you've got a poor milk supply). Keep in mind, however, that he could be fussing for reasons unrelated to hunger (like colic). In general, if your baby's active, alert, and healthy overall, you've got nothing to worry about in the milk-making department.

Your baby's gaining weight. There's no surer sign of good milk supply than a baby who's putting on the pounds (or at least the ounces). A weight gain of four to seven ounces on average per week indicates he's getting enough milk.

How to boost your milk supply

If you, the pediatrician, and/or a lactation specialist have determined that your milk supply is indeed low, there are ways to increase it:

Make sure your positioning is spot on and the latch is correct.

Allow your baby to drain both breasts at each feeding (don't look at the clock; let him decide when the meal is over).

Feed your baby on demand (every two to three hours in the first months). Don't stick to a rigid schedule with long intervals between feedings.

If your baby is a sleepy feeder (i.e., he drifts off at the breast), switch back and forth between breasts (so you're feeding from each breast two or three times) to make sure each one gets adequate suckling time.

Avoid supplementing with bottles of formula, and limit pacifier use.

Consider pumping between feedings (if you're not too exhausted) to build up your supply even more.

Get enough rest and eat well. An exhausted underfed mom is not an efficient milk machine.

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